Grapple.



PATENTBD MAR. 24, 1908.

L. T. vP511190,

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LUTHER T. PEDIGO, OF GREENSBURG, KANSAS.

' GRAPPLE.

Application filed January 2, 1908.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 24, 1908.

Serial No. 408,950.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LUTHER T. PEDIGO, citizen of the United States, residing at Greensburg, in the county of Kiowa and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Grapples, of which the following is a specification.

This invention comprehends certain new and useful improvements in grapples, the present invention being designed particularly for use in elevating rods of tubular wells, although it will be understood that the invention is also applicable for handling pipes or tool rods of every character, and the invention has for its object a simple, durable and eflicient construction of this character which is composed of comparatively few parts that may be cheaply manufactured and readily assembled.

With this and other objects in view as will more fully appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in certain constructions and arrangements of the parts that I shall hereinafter more fully describe and claim.

For a full understanding of the invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved grapple, the parts being shown relaxed, and Fig' 2 is a sectional view of the device.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followin description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

My improved grapple comprises a tubular casing 1 which is formed with diametrically opposed longitudinally extending slots 2. A ring 3 encircles and is secured to the lower end of the casing 1, and curved jaws 4 are pivotally connected at their lower ends to the said ring 3 in registry with the respective slots 2. Link rods 5 are pivotally connected to the upper ends of the curved jaws 4, and said links extend upwardly through outstanding ears or loops 6 formed on or secured to the upper edge of the casing 1. The upper ends of the two links 5 are connected together by a ring 7 or the like, designed to receive a hook or any other portion of any suitable hoisting mechanism.

In the practical use of my improved grapple, with a pump rod for instance, the device is lowered into the well until the casing 1 fits over the rod, the link rods 5 being thus relaxed, so as to permit the curved jaws 4 to swing outwardly, in order to insure the encircling of the rod by the casing. Immediately upon tension being exerted in an upward direction on the ring 7 the links 5 will be pulled upwardly and cause the curved jaws 4 to move inwardly through the slots 2 and thereby exert a sufficient pressure on the rod to hold the same and the casing together, so that the entire device niay be hoisted ou of the well.

From the foregoing description in connecand efiective device or the purpose hereto fore set forth, that will exert a proper holding pressure u on pump rods, pipes or tubes, either of wood or metal, without danger of crushing or bending them, and that the device may be very cheaply manufactured and the parts easily assembled for use.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A device of the character described, comprising a tubular casing formed with longitudinally extending slots extending therethrough, a ring encircling and secured to the lower end of the casing, curved jaws pivotally connected at their lower ends to the ring and extending upwardly therefrom inregistry with said slots, the casing being formed at its upper edge with outstanding ears, link rods plvotally connected to the upper ends of said jaws and extending upwardly through said ears, and a ring connecting together the upper ends of said link rods.

2. A device of the character described, comprising a tubular casing formed with longitudinally extending slots, jaws pivotally supported on the casing below said slots, link rods secured to said jaws, the casing being provided above the slots with guiding means through which the link rods extend, and a comection between the upper ends of said ro s.

3. A device of the character described, In testimony whereof I aflix my signature comprising a tubular casing formed with in presence of two witnesses. longitudinal slots, jaws pivotally supported LUTHER T PEDIGO [L S on said casing in registry with the respective 5 slots, links secured to said jaws, a connection between said links, and a guiding connection between said links and said casing. 

